28: House of Denial

"I don't know," he told her, "But that would mean he was blessed by the Order."

"Could it have been as a child?" she asked, "Or would that only happen if he drank?"

"Again, I don't know," Victor said, "You'd have to find one blessed at birth, and one blessed later, and find out."

She nodded, standing up, "I'm going to keep this to myself for now," she said, "I won't tell anyone else."

"Don't trust that man," Victor told her.

"Victor…you're always a way with us…" she said, not sure how to explain it, "Well, kind of mean and…"

"I know what you mean," he muttered, a bit angry.

"Sorry," she said, "But, I mean…why are you helping right now? I mean, I could have shown you, asked you, and you didn't have to answer. But you are. Why?"

"Because believe it or not, I care about all of you. You're my wards, I care."

"Thank you, Victor," she said with a small smile, "Will this change things?"

"I don't know," he said, "I'll be out soon. We'll see."

"And I'll tell you everything then," she said, "I swear that to you."

"Even after the Cup?"

"Yes," she said, "Because you're not a bad person."

She looked at the picture once more. The eyes were unmistakable. The eyes told her everything.

"Be careful around that man," Victor said, "Just be very careful. I don't know what you've gotten yourselves into, but be careful."

"We will," she said, leaving him. She looked at the others, "Anyone else want to see him?"

"Mr. Wolf's not here," Fabian said, "So we just have to spend some time, tell him we all saw him, and then go."

Nina nodded, passing Joy her mobile back, "Thanks."

"What did he have to say?" she asked.

"He didn't know much," she said.

After some time Mr. Wolf came back, and they all left. When they returned to Anubis House, Nina drew Fabian away into her room and closed the door.

"I have something to tell you," she said, "He knew something."

"Why didn't you tell us all?" he asked.

"I thought you'd take it best," she said, "The spirit?"

"What about it?" he asked.

"It's Mr. Wolf," she said quietly.

"What?" he questioned.

"Yeah," she said, nodding, "I looked. It's him. I'm sure of it. His eyes…"

"The eyes could mean anything," he said.

"No. I know," she said, taking out her mobile and showing it to him, "I saved the picture, just in case you didn't believe me."

He looked at it, looking at the eyes specifically, "I…I don't know…"

"It's him, it has to be," she said.

"But what sense does it make?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said, "I really don't."

He nodded, "Ok, let's assume it is him. What do we do about it?"

"I don't know," she said, "But Victor said to be careful around him."

"Well, if it is him, that makes a lot of sense," he said, "What if he left the flashdrive?"

"I guess that might be possible," she said, "And that spirit…that means he's also blessed, and…"

"He died," Fabian said, "I don't get this."

"Me neither," Nina agreed.

Amber opened the door, "Oh, sorry guys," she said, "Can you go to Fabian's room instead?"

"It's not like that," Nina told her.

She shrugged, "So, what are you guys talking about?"

"Nothing," Nina said.

"Oh, so it was that?"

"No!" they both said.

"Then is it a secret?" she asked.

They looked at each other, prompting Amber to smile, "Oh, a secret. What is it?"

"That's not how secrets work," Nina said.

"Oh come on, tell me!" she said, "I heard something about Mr. Wolf when I was walking up."

They didn't say anything.

Nina held out her mobile. Amber took it and looked at the picture, "I don't get it," she said, looking.

"Look closer," she said.

"Mr. Wolf!" she exclaimed.

"Quiet!" Fabian hissed, going to close the door.

"What about him?" Patricia asked, walking by.

"He's the ghost!" Amber said just as Fabian was closing the door. She shoved the mobile to Patricia, who looked.

"How?" she questioned.

"Well, there goes our secret," Nina muttered, "He was blessed by the Order of Amneris, apparently. And he died. That's what we're guessing," Nina said, "Now, this is just between the four of us."

"We need the book," Fabian said, leaving the room to go find Noah.

"How did you figure it out?" Amber asked.

"Victor did," she said.

"Really?" Amber asked.

"Wait. You got help from Victor?" Patricia questioned, "I mean, I didn't like the idea of going to him for help, but he actually did help?"

"He did, and warned us to be careful of Mr. Wolf," she said.

Fabian returned shortly with Noah and the book, "Ok, look at this," he said, giving her the mobile and waiting.

"I don't get it," she said.

"It's Mr. Wolf," Fabian said.

She looked again, shaking her head, "I don't see it."

"Did you learn anything else?" Nina asked.

"No," she said, giving the mobile back, "A lot of this is boring. But I'm working through it."

"Ok," Nina said, "Well, keep us informed."

"I will," she assured.

"You really don't think it's Wolf?" Patricia asked, "Even the eyes?"

Noah shook her head, "I really don't," she said, leaving them to continue reading.


The next day, while they were all in school, Victor returned to Anubis House by cab. He was discharged from the hospital finally, so it was time to take back his position at the House. And to confront Mr. Wolf.

He felt fine enough as he walked. He knew Wolf was younger, but Victor was a man with a goal. He walked right into the House and looked around the familiar room, looking up the stairs, heading up.

He pushed his office door open and looked at Mr. Wolf seated there behind the desk. He looked at Victor, "Oh, I heard you were coming back," he said.

"What are you?" he questioned.

"What do you mean?" he asked Victor.

"You're a spirit. What are you?"

Mr. Wolf just looked at him for a few moments with no change in expression.

Then he smiled.